Rick Darnell, candidate for director of athletics at Missouri State, says on a day-to-day basis his role at Baylor University is fundraiser. / Steve J.P. Liang / News-Leader

Five questions with Rick Darnell, one of five candidates to become new director of athletics at Missouri State:

What would be your first priority as athletic director?

Darnell: First and foremost, my first priority is to listen, without a doubt. This is a community where I'm familiar with the region, familiar with the state. There's almost six million people that live in the state of Missouri and there's 114 counties. I've got a lot of people to greet, and more importantly, get introduced to by (sports information director Rick Kindhart) and the rest of the department.

In addition to that ... very important to me is a strategic plan. We will have a plan by January 2010 if I'm the selected candidate. We will have a strategic plan where we've worked with the entire team, the coaches, the administrative assistants to obviously the administrative staff. We're all going to talk to the community and talk to the donors to try and build that.

That's the two key initiatives -- to meet people and to develop a plan.

In these difficult economic times, how do you best stretch the athletic budget?

Darnell: I think first and foremost, it goes back to relationships. You've got to treat people fantastically. (Vice president for university advancement Brent Dunn) and his team, they're having a terrific year and they're going to continue to have a terrific year because they have good relationships with donors, and that's why their support's still strong.

I'm lucky to work at an institution right now where we're having a record year, and why is that? It goes back to people. We've got great people, and we're very lucky with the support that we have. There's a passion that exists, and we will continue to make sure that those folks know how much we appreciate them.

Coming from a major athletic department with several layers of administrators, how much of an adjustment will it be for the new athletic director to make things work with a limited staff?

Darnell: You'd be surprised. I think I've been exceptionally prepared not only by the leaders and the team and the folks that I've had the privilege of working with, but there are so many comparables with Idaho and the size and the opportunities.

How much day-to-day interaction do you have with coaches at Baylor, and do you consider yourself a hands-on type of administrator?

Darnell: From a hands-on standpoint and day-to-day, I'm a fundraiser. That's my role at Baylor. I played different roles at previous places. But specifically, I have a relationship to help them grow their dreams and grow and help them to recruit great student-athletes and also to have a great experience for the student-athletes and the fans, and that's facilities.

What is your stance on football at the Football Championship Subdivision level and its value to this university?

Darnell: I love it. We've got an opportunity to be in the playoffs. Isn't that what everybody's wanting to do?